deshola In a significant diplomatic breakthrough, Africa’s regional organisations have joined forces to consolidate peace mediation efforts aimed at ending decades of conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Leaders from the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) agreed to merge two separate peace initiatives into a unified African-led framework designed to restore stability and foster inclusive dialogue.
The decision, endorsed at a virtual summit co-chaired by Kenyan President William Ruto and Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, reflects a growing consensus that coordinated regional action offers the strongest pathway to lasting peace in one of Africa’s most protracted conflicts.
A United Mediation Framework
Under the new mechanism, the merged peace process brings together diplomatic expertise and political weight from across the continent. A five-member Panel of Facilitators including former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo (Nigeria), Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya), Catherine Samba-Panza (Central African Republic), Sahle-Work Zewde (Ethiopia), and Mokgweetsi Masisi (Botswana), has been tasked with steering inclusive talks involving both the DRC government and armed groups.
This united approach builds on previous efforts and amplifies them by aligning EAC and SADC resources, expertise, and political influence with the support of the African Union (AU). It also complements complementary diplomatic initiatives led by the U.S. and Qatar, which have encouraged dialogue between key stakeholders in the region.
Prioritising Local Ownership and Inclusivity
A core advantage of the merged framework is its emphasis on African leadership and ownership of the peace process. By empowering regional actors with deep cultural and historical understanding of the conflict’s dynamics, organisers hope to build trust with local communities and armed factions a critical factor that has eluded past agreements.
Experts say that for negotiations to produce durable outcomes, they must meaningfully involve civil society representatives, community leaders, women’s groups, and youth organisations, ensuring that peace is anchored in the everyday realities of those most affected by the violence.
Operational Planning and Resource Mobilisation
Leaders have also endorsed key operational documents and a resource mobilisation plan to sustain the initiative’s activities. By securing funding and logistical support in advance, the merged framework aims to avoid the stop-start challenges that have historically plagued African peace efforts.
Complementing Humanitarian and Development Efforts
The eastern DRC has endured decades of conflict that have resulted in sustained human suffering. According to the United Nations, tens of millions of Congolese face food insecurity and displacement. Integrated peace talks will need to be paired with robust humanitarian relief and long-term development plans that address underlying causes including poverty, infrastructure deficits, and governance gaps.
What Comes Next
The newly unified EAC-SADC/AU framework represents more than a diplomatic realignment, it signals a strategic shift toward African-led conflict resolution that is better coordinated, better funded, and more inclusive. Next steps include deeper engagement with armed stakeholders, expanded grassroots participation, and synchronized efforts with international partners.
If successful, this approach could set a regional peacebuilding precedent for addressing other conflicts on the continent demonstrating that collective African action, backed by coordinated planning and local empowerment, can achieve sustainable stability where fragmented efforts once fell short.
